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How many times have you used the Superdrive?
- Thread starter ermir4444
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Guess I'm the only one who enjoys watching DVDs on my MacBook Pro (without an external drive of course). It's almost to the point of compulsion that a lot of people here are scratching at the walls screaming "Get it out, get it out!" Why does it bother people that a feature is present? I don't use the ethernet port, card slot, kensington lock slot, FireWire, or Thunderbolt, but I'm not flipping out over the fact that they are there. I know some people use them. Weight and thinness isn't really an issue, and if a few ounces are that important perhaps said person should opt to buy a MacBook Air.
Perhaps I'm just resistant to change, but it's still pretty important to me.
I borrow music CDs from friends to rip, I often watch rented DVDs on it when I don't have access to the internet. I often burn images to DVDs for friends/family as it's more convenient then asking for my USB drive back.
I borrow music CDs from friends to rip, I often watch rented DVDs on it when I don't have access to the internet. I often burn images to DVDs for friends/family as it's more convenient then asking for my USB drive back.
So, about 50% still use it on regular basis. This from a poll among mac forum users, that one might consider as "advanced" in the adoption of new technologies.
I guess its still too early to remove the optical drive from all laptop models. Choice is good!
I guess its still too early to remove the optical drive from all laptop models. Choice is good!
I think what it comes down to is that most people would rather have an additional place to stick a hard drive, as physical media is being replaced by downloadable/streaming content.
I would not consider "every now and then" as regular basis. I think people who use it every now and then could use and external for those occasions.
MacRumor forum users are advanced but some of them are professionals as well, which use cd and dvd for their work (audio, photography and video editors).
There is a lot of people out there who use their machines for internet/skype/itune/office/netflix (students mostly) and they have never used the ODD
I pretty much still use the superdrive weekly. Though I wouldn't miss it that much if it was gone and I'm considering putting 2 SSDs in RAID 0 soon though. I have a desktop if I'd need any music ripping. 
It is removable, so those wanting a space for an additional HD already have that. As far as battery, perhaps Apple could come up with an additional battery that latches into that spot if one removed the optical drive. I don't think it's time to remove the drive from the design completely and not leave it up to the customer as a choice... which it currently is.
When I had a MBP, I used to use the Superdrive quite a bit - mostly for ripping & burning CDs, and, also for installing Office etc.
Then, when I switched to a MBA, I also bought an external MBA Superdrive (which failed; as it was still under warranty, Apple replaced it). I still use that - as I still buy CDs - and for installing Office, burning & ripping CDs, etc. Now, I cannot say that I use it weekly, but I would not choose to be without it.
Then, when I switched to a MBA, I also bought an external MBA Superdrive (which failed; as it was still under warranty, Apple replaced it). I still use that - as I still buy CDs - and for installing Office, burning & ripping CDs, etc. Now, I cannot say that I use it weekly, but I would not choose to be without it.
I went the Optibay way as well. Picked up a 120 gig SSD and put the 750 gig HDD into the hard drive caddy. It's a pretty awesome setup.
It's one of those things that you don't really need nowadays but when you do need it, your kind of SOL.
It's near it's death (for at least being internally included), as was the floppy drive for Apple 14 years ago when Steve returned.
It's near it's death (for at least being internally included), as was the floppy drive for Apple 14 years ago when Steve returned.
That would work, except for the fact that many people get their internet service from ISPs with very restrictive/limited download caps, so downloading/streaming isn't always an option for them. Comcast has a flat 250GB cap for all of their packages, and most people can get by just fine on that. But other ISPs will have significantly lower caps, which seriously impedes one's ability to use Netflix/YouTube/Hulu/etc without incurring prohibitive usage charges.
I actually read the title of this thread, thinking to myself what the hell a superdrive is... It took me about 5secs to figure it out..
I swapped my superdrive out to a 500GB Momentus XT, before I even booted my MBP for the first time.
I swapped my superdrive out to a 500GB Momentus XT, before I even booted my MBP for the first time.